Improvement in wind-wheels



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY OOEANUS COOK, LONDON, ENGLAND,

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-WH EELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 49,485, dated August 15, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY OcEANUs 00.0K, of London, in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, now temporarily residingskilled in the art to make and use the same,

reference being `had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which-v Figure l `is an4 elevation of my invention-5 Fig. 2, a plan or top view ot' thevsame.

Similar letters oi' reference indicate like parts.

This invention relates to anew and improved wind wheel, applicable for all purposes in which it is designed to obtain power from the wind for driving machinery.

The object ot' the invention is to obtain a Wind-wheel which will not require the aid of a vane or other device, or any particularadjustment or arrangement of parts in order that it may face or be kept in a certain position relatively with the wind, so as to be capable of ybeing operated by the same, and still be simple in construction and admit of being manufactured at a small expense.

A represents a shaft, which in this instance is shown in a vertical position, and has a circular head or disk, et, secured to it, to which the lower end of the wings or sails B are secured, the opposite ends of the latter being secured to a head, b.

The wings or sails B may be constructed ofA metal, cast, wrought, or rolled, and they may be described asbeing formed of plates of taper form, one edge, o, being straight or parallel with the axis ot' the wheel, and the other inclined, so that they will gradually increase in width from one end to the other, the upper ends in this instance being the narrow ends. These plates are curved, forming a portion of a circle or scroll in their transverse section, their concave sides being the face sides, or the sides against which the Wind acts, and the inner edges ot' the wings or sails are not in contact, a space, ax, being allowed between them for the wind to pass through and ll or act against the wing or sail directly behind the one which receives the direct action of the wind. By this arrangement it will be seen that the wind only acts efficiently against the concave sides or surfaces of the buckets, which are at one side of the axis of the wheel, the convex surfaces bein-g at the opposite side, and hence the rotation of the wheel; and it will further be seen that the wheel will always operate regardless of the changes in the direction of the wind, and without the aid of any vane or other means to effect that end,the position of the wheel always being the same.

The opening or space at the inner edges of the wings or sails, in order to admit of the wind passing through and filling the sail at the rear of the one having its direct action, is avery important feature of the invention, as it greatly augments the powerand eiciency ot' the wheel.

Thetaper form of the wings or sail is important, as it causes the wind, in the rotation of the wheel, to act upon or against them from their narrow to their broader ends, the concave surfaces being gradually exposed to the action ofthe wind.

I do not confine myself to any particular material in the construction ofthe wheel. Wood or metal (cast or wrought) may be used, 'or they maybe constructed of a textile or other fibrous or iiexible material stretched over or placed on frames. So long as the curvature of the Wings or sails and the opening or space between their inner edges are obtained material is not important. Neither is position, for the wheel may be run either vertically, inclined, or horizontally.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A wind-wheei composed of wings or sails B, curved so as to form a portion of a circle or a section ot' a scroll in their horizontal section, and ot taper form longitudinally, as described.

2. A space or opening between the edges ot' the wings or sails, when the latter are of the shape or form specied, for the purpose set forth.

HENRY O. COOK. Witnesses:

A. L. DENNIsoN, HIRAM PIERCE. 

